Throughout the past few years, athletes in USA Weightlifting have filed complaints and shared their stories of discrimination and abuse. Every time the athletes came forward, they were subjected to various forms of retaliation which resulted in their personal reputations being damaged and their careers being drastically hindered.

Please consider signing this petition to put pressure on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, their sponsors and politicians in order for new leadership to be brought in at USA Weightlifting and for their current CEO, Phil Andrews, and Board of Directors members active as of 2016 to resign.

In 2016, USAW allowed Shahin Nasirinia, a former World Champion to coach at the 2016 Olympics for Team USA even though they knew he was arrested on multiple cases of sexual abuse.

In 2017, Jennyfer Roberts would report to USA Weightlifting that she was raped by a member of the USAW Board of Directors who was also an athlete on an international team she competed on in 2016.  On social media Phil Andrews would congratulate the athlete for winning competitions, crack jokes and allow him to continue to serve on the board.  The athlete also was coached by the USAW Board Member, Ursula Papaandrea and subsequently supported despite his conviction.

In 2018, Caitlin Hogan would file a complaint and after being found guilty by an USAW Ethics Committee, Sean Waxman would be allowed to become a USAW Board Member the same exact year.

In September of 2018, top Black athletes came forward with their experiences of what they perceived to be institutionalized racism and discrimination within USA Weightlifting and the organization buried their stories and prevented an internal investigation from moving forward.

We ask for your support in a change of leadership of USAW-the removal of both Phil Andrews as the CEO of USAW and board members active since 2016.